Method for preserving cut flowers, cut flower preservation kit, method for manufacturing processed cut flowers, and processed cut flowers

Abstract

A method for preserving a cut flower involving only an easy and simple procedure, whereby the cut flower can maintain qualities similar to those of the natural state for a long period of time, and a method for manufacturing a processed cut flower that can maintain qualities similar to those of the natural state for a long period of time. The method for preserving a cut flower by replacing the tissue fluid of the cut flower by a preservative solution includes the steps of: (1) a first replacement step in which the tissue fluid of the cut flower is replaced by a hydrophilic organic solvent; and (2) a second replacement step in which the hydrophilic organic solvent having replaced the tissue fluid in the cut flower is replaced by the preservative solution of an organic solvent that has an affinity for the hydrophilic organic solvent and is nonvolatile or hardly-volatile.

1 . A method for preserving a cut flower by replacing tissue fluid of the cut flower by a preservative solution, the method including:
 (1) a first replacement step in which the tissue fluid of the cut flower is replaced by a hydrophilic organic solvent; and   (2) a second replacement step in which the hydrophilic organic solvent that has replaced the tissue fluid in the cut flower is replaced by a preservative solution comprising an organic solvent that has an affinity for the hydrophilic organic solvent and is nonvolatile or hardly-volatile.   
   
   
       2 . The method for preserving a cut flower according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the preservative solution is at least one selected from the group consisting of 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, 2-[2-(2-ethylhexyloxy)ethoxy]ethanol, 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol, 2-(2-ethylhexyloxy)ethanol and polypropylene glycol.   
   
   
       3 . The method for preserving a cut flower according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the hydrophilic organic solvent includes at least one liquid selected from the group consisting of ethanol, 1,4-dioxane, n-butyric acid, acetone and 1-propanol.   
   
   
       4 . The method for preserving a cut flower according to  claim 1 , further including a washing step in which the surface of the cut flower having been subjected to the second replacement step is rinsed with a further hydrophilic organic solvent than said hydrophilic organic solvent. 
   
   
       5 . A cut flower preservation kit that is usable to perform the method for preserving a cut flower according to  claim 1 , the kit including at least the hydrophilic organic solvent and the preservative solution. 
   
   
       6 . A method for manufacturing a processed cut flower by replacing tissue fluid of a cut flower by a preservative solution, the method including:
 (1) a first replacement step in which the tissue fluid of the cut flower is replaced by a hydrophilic organic solvent; and   (2) a second replacement step in which the hydrophilic organic solvent having replaced the tissue fluid in the cut flower is replaced by a preservative solution comprising an organic solvent that has an affinity for the hydrophilic organic solvent and is nonvolatile or hardly-volatile.   
   
   
       7 . The method for manufacturing a processed cut flower according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the preservative solution is at least one selected from the group consisting of 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, 2-[2-(2-ethylhexyloxy)ethoxy]ethanol, 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol, 2-(2-ethylhexyloxy)ethanol and polypropylene glycol.   
   
   
       8 . The method for manufacturing a processed cut flower according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the hydrophilic organic solvent includes at least one liquid selected from the group consisting of ethanol, 1,4-dioxane, n-butyric acid, acetone and 1-propanol.   
   
   
       9 . The method for manufacturing a processed cut flower according to  claim 6 , further including a washing step in which the surface of the cut flower having been subjected to the second replacement step is rinsed with a further hydrophilic organic solvent than said hydrophilic organic solvent. 
   
   
       10 . A processed cut flower manufactured by the method for manufacturing a processed cut flower according to  claim 6 .